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Important! Please Read This Notice!All information provided in these articles is based either on personal experience or information provided by others whose treatments and practices have been discussed fully with a vet for accuracy and effectiveness before passing them on to readers.
In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information provided in these articles. We are not veterinarians. Neither Goat-Link.com nor any of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein.PLEASE keep in mind, just because there is a DVM after the name does not mean they have the proper answers for goat owners 'Caveat emptor'- You need to find a responsible GOAT Vet

Major Causes of Pneumonia:

The 3 main causative agents of pneumonia are: Bacterial, Viral and Parasitic. High humidity, close conditions, drastic change in weather conditions, change in environment,feed, or kidding (Sometimes referred to as shipping stress), inadequate ventilation and dusty damp bedding are some of the most common antagonists for the beginning of pneumonia.

Most Common Clinical Signs:

Function of the lungs:

The lungs are the largest organ (aside from the rumen) in the goat's body. Lungs are composed of millions of tiny thin walled air sacs. Around these air sacs are capillaries filled with blood. The blood fills with oxygen and is then transferred through the body nourishing the cells in all the organs, picking up carbon dioxide from these organs and back to the lungs for a "gas exchange", trading the carbon dioxide for oxygen. (Of course this is a very simplified explanation of what goes on in the body). But this gives you an idea of why, when the lungs are not working to their full potential the rest of the body too, is at risk.

The lungs are a very moist organ, making them more susceptible to bacteria to take a hold any chance it has.The lungs are also enclosed in a double walled sac called pleura. The inner layer of this sac (visceral pleura) adheres tightly to the lungs and the outer layer (parietal pleura) is attached to the wall of the chest cavity. These two layers are separated by a thin space called the pleural cavity that is filled with pleural fluid; allowing the inner and outer layers to slide over each other, and prevents them from being separated easily. Bacterial infection can also cause an over abundance of fluids to accumulate in this plural cavity compromising the job of the lungs. Pneumonias fill the air sacs (alveoli) with fluids, bacteria, and pus; also compromising the duty of the lungs to cleanse the blood and exchange the gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen).[This explanation is neither complete nor thorough- but gives you the basics].

What is Pasteurella?

Pasteurella multocida was discovered by Louis Pasteur for it's role in Chicken Cholera. The toxin gets inside cells and attacks cellular proteins involved in signaling. (Cell signaling is the communication of cells so they may be able to coordinate a behavior beneficial to the organism as a whole.)Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT) is known to stimulate the signalling proteins leading to growth changes in cellular structure and cellular shape.In the late 1880's Louis Pasteur took part in a contest held by the Government of So Wales. A prize of $10,000,000 to the person who could use a biological method of irradication of rabbits who had become a pest in the pasture lands. Pasteur intended to use this micro-organism.